Retail phase of 65-acre Florida project is approved

Metropica, a 65-acre community planned for Sunrise, Florida, will begin building 370,000 sq. ft. of retail, dining, and entertainment space after getting the go-ahead from the town’s Planning and Zoning Committee.

Tenants waiting to fill the space include iPic Theaters, Anthropologie, Fogo de Chao, Kings Bowl, and Kona Grill. Also approved as part of this first phase of construction phase were a 345-unit apartment building, a 240-room hotel, and 140,000 sq. ft. of office space.

Sunrise Mayor Michael Ryan hailed the project as the ground-up creation of a brand new neighborhood for his city. “It will tie all of Sunrise together, giving us a convenient and beautiful place to live, work and play, as well as connecting us to the greater South Florida metroplex,” he said following the committee vote.

The project is being developed by Metropica Development LLC, a venture led by Joseph Kavana, CEO of KGH International Development. Upon completion, it will encompass 4 million sq. ft. of residential, commercial, hotel, conference, and public space — including a beach club and its own “Central Park.”